29 Secrets to Celebrating the Season
Influenced by backgrounds in hospitality, entertaining, and more, our real estate agents share an affinity for the holidays. Here’s how they embrace the season’s best within their own abodes.
Words: Hannah McWilliams
Illustrations: Mercedes deBellard
Working his way up at Pismo Beach, California’s luxurious Dolphin Bay Resort & Spa, Boston agent Chris Gonzales remembers watching its bartenders craft Manhattans and describe old-vine Zinfandel’s many nuances. Thirsty for knowledge, he rapidly ascended to their ranks before ultimately landing the plum position of restaurant manager. “Being located within the top-producing Edna Valley wine region, we hosted events attended by master sommeliers and celebrities alike,” he explains. Eventually, Gonzales departed the Pacific shores for the harbors of Boston, parlaying his well-honed command of exceptional service to real estate — but retaining his unbeatable blood orange margarita recipe.
Raise the Bar
Hosting a holiday gathering? Take your cues from Gonzales and aim for what he terms “The 3 S’s” — the foundation of any great fête.
Something sparkling
“Whether the occasion calls for Champagne, cava, cremant, or prosecco, have bottles of bubbly and flutes on hand for toasts.”
Something spirited
Streamline your setup to two crowd-pleasing liquors and a few modular mixers. Gonzales suggests Belvedere vodka and Bulleit bourbon plus fizzy San Pellegrino sodas in Limonata and Aranciata Rossa, plenty of seltzer, and lots of sliced citrus.
Something still
When it comes to wine, it’s fine to offer a variety of varietals, but Gonzales recommends limiting the selection to one per grape. “This ensures that when guests go back for a second pour of the Chablis, there will be another bottle of the same wine waiting for them — one they already know they like.”
As an advocate of affordable adoption for all through HelpUsAdopt.org, LA agent Courtney Smith knows firsthand how important her cause is; she and her husband Stephen have adoption to thank for helping them start their beautiful family of four. Philanthropy anchors her professional efforts as well: “Our team has its own charitable giving campaign, We Heart NELA, through which we donate funds to the local organization of our clients’ choosing.” The initiative has reinvested $20,000 in the northeast LA community since 2015. “As agents, our actions are extremely visible — a pleasure, but an even greater responsibility,” she explains. “We are instruments of change within the neighborhoods we serve.”
Cause and Effect
This season, channel the generosity of the Courtney + Kurt team and commit to giving back. Whether the gift of time, funds, or knowledge, everyone has something to offer — here’s how to get started, courtesy of the agents.
Elevate your impact
Put holiday shopping to good use, either donating in loved ones’ names to a charity that resonates with them or purchasing gifts that benefit the less fortunate, such as from LA’s Downtown Women’s Center. Its online store MadebyDWC.org sells jewelry, handbags, and candles made by the women living at the shelter.
Open your doors
Considering a four-legged addition to the family? Skip the pet store in favor of a shelter like LA’s The Real Bark. It finds homes for wayward animals; the animals, in turn, transform the homes that adopt them.
Stay local
Philanthropy starts in your own community. Try a toy drive like the LA firefighter-led Spark of Love or pitch in for Thanksgiving events like Union Station Homeless Services’ annual dinner in Pasadena’s Central Park.
Washington DC agent Paul Czuba developed a taste for hospitality early, founding a small catering company while still a Chicago high school student. From there, he launched a 30-year career in the hotel business, honing his skills at DC’s historic Willard Hotel, then enjoying 19 years in the Ritz-Carlton’s employ. His tenure included appointments in Hawaii, Egypt, Qatar, and Bali, where he accepted the Director of Marketing title with the Four Seasons Resorts Bali. For the next nine years, he created an idyllic home-away-from-home for guests — who included Penelope Cruz, Giorgio Armani, even the cast of Eat, Pray, Love — before returning to the States to help clients find permanent, but no less perfect, abodes.
Destination: De-Stress
“I equally enjoy two types of travel — the active discovery of new cultures and the restorative effects of unplugging,” says Czuba. “But in both, I seek fine dining, transporting architecture, impeccable service, and beautiful surroundings.” If you’re looking to escape home for the holidays, craft your itinerary from this globetrotter’s personal recommendations:
The Maldives for incredible dive sites, absolute seclusion, and the world’s top-ranked beaches
Bali for Indonesian palaces, stunning textiles, and luxurious Ayurvedic massage
Tokyo for Shinto temples, traditional tea ceremonies, and the seamless blending of new and old
New Zealand for spectacularly diverse scenery and adrenaline-spiking
skiing, surfing, hiking, and biking
The Golden Triangle of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar for ancient shrines, night markets, and exquisite food
Having spent a career bouncing around the globe — seamlessly transitioning from international flight attendant to interior designer to entertainment manager — Miami agent Jane Bond could be considered the quintessential people person. She was the creative force behind homes in San Diego, Philadelphia, and Great Falls, Virginia, for three-time Super Bowl winner and offensive tackle Harry Swayne and his family; she’s also organized SoHo House parties in New York City for Nigel Barker, judge of America’s Next Top Model. Not surprisingly, her network is nearly as expansive as her career trajectory, with clients and colleagues alike attracted by her inimitable sense of style and service.
On a Personal Note
“In the real estate business, keeping up with the times is crucial — with the rare exception! A beautiful piece of mail or a personalized gift will always make a stronger impression than any email ever could,” says Bond.
Invest in quality
“Paper Source sells the most stunning stationery. This year, I’m having my team’s new logo embossed on notecards — velvety white cardstock with a striking black overlay for maximum design impact!”
Make a lasting impression
“I host an annual dinner party at my home, starting the evening with cocktails and ending it with a parting gift for each guest. It checks two boxes: everyone enjoys themselves, and they leave with a tangible reminder of the event. This year, I’ll give locally-made candles.”
Personalize your message
“Pen at least one anecdote in every card. Whether a paint recommendation for a currently-renovating client or a ‘bon voyage’ on an upcoming trip, remembrance is the sincerest way to show you care.”
After an early career spent honing his skills at his family’s Texas-based men’s apparel business, New York agent Jim Farah sought the elevated aesthetic of an international brand located in one of the world’s great commerce capitals. Packing his bags and departing for New York, he joined Swiss fashion label Bally as its North American Chief Marketing Officer, where he led the company’s most profitable division. “We constantly worked with celebrity clients, but to this day, my favorite two were David and Shaun Cassidy; we outfitted them during their Blood Brothers run on Broadway,” he recalls. Eventually, he transitioned his knowledge of luxury accessories to luxury properties, now leading his eponymous agent team at Compass.
Best in Class
“The holidays call for luxe fabrics and ornate styles; now is the time for tuxedo slippers and brocade everything!” declares Farah, who makes a yearly wintertime pilgrimage to his favorite boutiques throughout Manhattan. Follow in his footsteps to experience exceptional service, seasonal splurges, and the city’s most dazzling displays.
For new year’s eve night out
Head to the West Village and clean up with a custom evening jacket in winter white from J.Mueser. (The tipple of Balvenie Scotch is on the house.)
For fireside lounging
Slip on a pair of handmade embroidered loafers by Stubbs + Wootton, sourced from their Upper East Side shop.
For an upstate getaway
Get going with a goose-down, fur-trimmed parka from Moncler’s Soho store, then make your way uptown for a structured leather weekender by Bally.
For winter-break breakfasts
Along the way, stop into Brooks Brothers’ Flatiron location for a crisp pair of cotton pajamas — white with navy piping preferred.
After graduating from RISD, moving to New York, and joining celebrated institution Dean & Deluca as an early-morning baker in 1990, Hamptons agent Caroline Sarraf quickly advanced to managerial status, overseeing cafés around Manhattan. Five years later, she partnered in the buzzy West Village eatery The Espresso Bar, which drew NYU students and celebrities for its locavore menu and DJ-spun music. Bringing her talents to Southampton, Sarraf helped renovate an old diner into a chic joint called The Greasy Spoon. “It was a fantastic spot — in fact, one of my current Compass clients was our first customer in 1999!” she recalls. “Fast-paced and high-volume, restaurants are akin to real estate. Ultimately, it’s about ensuring everyone gets what they want.”
Breakfast of Champions
With a résumé that reads baker, barista, and bacon-and-eggs purveyor, Sarraf is a veteran of the morning meal service. Here’s how she brings her well-honed skills home.
Keep it informal
“Place trays of crudité and charcuterie at prime reclining sites — by the fireplace, next to couches — using a casual array of vintage dishes.”
Go DIY with drinks
“Set up a mimosa station with prosecco and fresh juices (pear, peach, quince). People can choose their flavor and potency!”
Menu-plan with intent
“Instill a bit of narrative. For the New Year, that means pork for prosperity, fish for progress, and artichokes for hope in the form of bacon-wrapped oysters or artichoke heart-topped baked cod.”
Manage the mood
“Set the tone early with jazz by Billie Holiday, Dionne Warwick, and Otis Redding. To keep energy and appetites up, transition into bossa nova — Toots Thielemans, Cesária Évora, Gilles Peterson — before wrapping up the shindig with Spandau Ballet’s ‘Gold.’”
Even as a child in York, Pennsylvania, New York agent Parul Brahmbhatt sought answers to life’s big questions, which led to a Philosophy degree from the University of Pittsburgh. “It eventually occurred to me that maybe the answers aren’t ‘out there’ so much as within,” she says. Inspired by history’s most noted minds — Einstein, Gandhi, the Dalai Lama — she began practicing meditation and yoga. “I immersed myself, starting with a 10-day silent meditation at Insight Meditation Society — no internet, reading, or speaking,” Brahmbhatt explains. “It sounds impossible, but was so liberating! Once we eliminate the daily noise surrounding us, it’s astounding what our minds and bodies can tell us.”
Keep Your Cool
“Meditation and yoga help me stay calm, aware, and positive,” says Brahmbhatt, who notes that both are correlated with improved brain function, mood, and sleep. Navigate family gatherings, Black Friday hordes, and menu-planning meltdowns using her methods.
Tense? If you’re new to meditation, download Headspace. From breathing prompts to visualization, the app’s step-by-step instructions get you through anxiety-provoking occasions.
Overwhelmed? Tapping into your immediate environment can be more beneficial than, say, mentally retreating to a remote island. “Pinpointing the specific sensations around you has a calming effect.” For more tips, subscribe to Insight Meditation Society’s podcast and guided audio meditations at Dharma.org.
Tired? Cramped airplanes, heavy shopping bags, and packed schedules can lead to exhaustion and aches, so run through a few vinyasas to recharge. Looking for a studio? Brahmbhatt likes Yogaworks, which has 40+ locations in major cities.
Moving between Washington DC, London, and Bree, Belgium, during his youth, Los Angeles agent Greg Harris benefited from exposure to a diverse range of iconic architecture. Naturally gravitating to the discipline, he studied at the prestigious Southern California Institute of Architecture before joining the firm of accomplished Malibu-based architect Bruce Bolander. “I was very much interested in the construction and property components of the business,” Harris says, who worked with clients throughout the process, from CAD drawings to design elements. Since transitioning into real estate, he has applied his command of structure to match buyers and sellers with the area’s top homes.
A Blueprint for Gifting
Bruce Bolander, Harris’ former employer, is not the first architect to dabble in furniture design. Thanks to these smaller-scale creations, consumers can live alongside the work of legends like Richard Neutra and Giò Ponti, even if they can’t live in one. In that spirit, Harris makes his selects.
The sleekest seat “Since debuting in 1956, the leather and molded-wood Lounge Chair by Charles and Ray Eames showcases the innovative utility seen in the couple’s famed LA home.”
The most elegant work surface “The linearity of Jean Prouvé’s 1953 Compas desk mirrors the streamlined shapes of his buildings. Plus its compact size is ideal for the home office of today.”
The chicest spotlight “Finn Juhl’s domed metal task lamp from 1963 is representative of the interactive functionality and sculptural appeal that pervades Danish design.”
The most timeless coffee table “Organic materials meet serene precision in Isamu Noguchi’s 1948 table, a glass-topped puzzle piece of walnut or ash that echoes his landscape architecture.”
Looking for more? Meet our exceptional agent community at Compass.com.
